It’s not just about the words that come out of your mouth. The body language that you use goes a long way towards making you a more confident speaker. Some people think that body language is only something that you should pay attention to when you are speaking in public but this is not the case.
The Importance of the right Eye Contact
Making and maintaining the right eye contact is important in all speaking situations where you can see the person or people that you are speaking to. If you do not make the right eye contact then the words that come out of your mouth can be largely irrelevant. Have you ever had a conversation with a person that didn’t make eye contact? It is not a pleasant experience.
You need to ensure that you only make eye contact with someone for a certain amount of time. If you do this for too long it will seem like you are staring at them and they will not be comfortable with this. With one-on-one conversation the limit for eye contact is around 9 seconds according to scientific research.
One of the benefits of making good eye contact is that you can gauge the mood of the other person or people. If they seem bored with your speaking then you can change your approach to get them back onside.
Use the Correct Hand Gestures
What is the link between hand gestures and confident speaking? When you use the right hand gestures you can provide the necessary emphasis to what you are saying. It is a good way to amplify particular points that you are trying to make for example.
Making the right hand gestures will also help you to be perceived as more believable and genuine. Be careful not to overdo it with hand gestures though. Some speakers use so many hand gestures when they are speaking that their audience becomes more focused on the movement of their hands than what they are saying.
Facial Expressions are important
A facial expression will be used by another person to predict your mood. They are also useful to identify intent and emotions. Using the right facial expression will help your audience to really understand the message that you are delivering.
An example of this is to smile at an appropriate time. Getting your fascial expressions right will take a bit of practice and you need to do this. The use of the right facial expressions will give you more confidence when you are speaking.
Identify and eliminate bad mannerisms
There are a number of bad mannerisms that will not help you in your quest to become a confident speaker. We all have bad habits that we have strengthened over the years and you can end up using a bad mannerism when you are speaking without even realizing it.
A classic example of this is to keep saying the same words over and over. Some people use the word “like” a lot when they are speaking and others will succumb to those “ums” and “ahs” which can be so annoying for an audience.
The best way for you to identify if you have any bad mannerisms that will affect your speaking is to record yourself. You can then play back your performance and look for things that you are not happy about. It can take a lot of effort to eliminate a bad mannerism but it is important to do this.
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